Members of the different joint mechanisms under the Normalization Track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro as well as international independent bodies have begun preparations for the smooth decommissioning of at least 12,000 combatants of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front this year.
According to the heads of the government and the MILF Joint Normalization Committee, the purpose of the two-day meeting over the weekend here is to harmonize the collaborations between the parties and their international partners as the Bangsamoro peace process enters a new phase.
“We are in unity to express our hope for faster implementation of the Normalization Track,” said Ariel Hernandez, chairperson of the government JNC. “Our aim here is for the normalization process to be felt down to the households of the [MILF] communities.”
His MILF counterpart, Eduard Guerra, said a strong partnership is the key to surmount the challenges in the normalization process.
“We should work in partnership and always with consultation,” Guerra said.
President Rodrigo Duterte in April signed Executive Order No. 79 which consolidated the efforts of at least 17 government agencies involved in the normalization process.
Presidential Peace Adviser Carlito Galvez Jr. said it is critical for the normalization process to address the “drivers and triggers” that breed conflict “through eliminating the conditions and vulnerabilities for potential conflict, changing the behavioral patterns and mindset of individuals and organizations, and pushing them to work to achieve harmony, interdependence, and the common good.”